JCRC Director Set to Begin Leadership Certificate in Combatting Antisemitism

February 2, 2023

The Jewish Federation of San Antonio’s Jewish Community Relations Council(JCRC) Director, Lisa Epstein, Ph.D., was selected for the inaugural cohort of Chicago-based Spertus Institute’s Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism. Lisa, along with 16 other Jewish community executives and senior professionals from across North America, will gain valuable tools and training in how to respond to the growing rise in antisemitism.

In 2020, Pew Research Center found that “six-in-ten American Jews report having had a direct, personal experience with antisemitism in the past 12 months.” Meanwhile, the ADL’s 2021 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents revealed there was a 34% increase in tabulated antisemitic incidents from 2020 to 2021.

Lisa said of this opportunity, “It is an honor to be part of the inaugural group of the  Spertus Institute Executive Training Certificate in Combating Antisemitism. I am excited to learn from colleagues across North America and plan how we can harness our skills to work together to stop antisemitism in its tracks.”

In her role as the JCRC Director, Lisa works closely with the FBI and local law enforcement when incidents of antisemitism arise. Last summer, the JCRC organized a Symposium on Antisemitism with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that brought the community together to hear from local speakers on a variety of topics related to the issue. Most recently, the JCRC implemented a grant from Shine a Light, a program that aims to combat antisemitism, that offered Jewish families Shabbat supplies and an H-E-B gift card to host their non-Jewish neighbors and friends for a Shabbat meal.

There is no doubt that our community will greatly benefit from the continued knowledge and toolkit this program will provide to Lisa.

Report instances of antisemitism to Lisa Epstein at [email protected]. Epstein addresses antisemitism in our community by connecting with those impacted, notifying law enforcement, if necessary, meeting with school administrators, principals, and superintendents, and following up to ensure the incidents are taken seriously and addressed. Epstein also advocates with public officials to address antisemitism at the local, state, and national levels.